"It’s disappointing but we can only work hard for the coming year, so that we’ll have representatives there," Tanko told Goal.

"But in all, it was very disappointing that we didn’t have anybody there."

For the main award of the night - the African Player of The Year - Egypt and Liverpool attacker Mohamed Salah emerged winner, beating club teammate Sadio Mane (Senegal) and Borussia Dortmund and Gabon star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Tanko very well sides with the verdict.

"He [Salah] deserves it if you look at what he did last year," said, the former Freiburg striker.

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"I’m very happy for him. There’s no doubt about it that he deserves it."

Former Olympic Marseille man Abedi Ayew Pele remains the only Ghanaian to have picked up the flagship award, topping all others in 1992.